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The latest movie theater news and updates

AMBRIDGE, PA — The summer of 2014 may be remembered as the last hurrah of many older theaters that couldn’t make the jump to digital. The Ambridge Family Theater closed its doors after almost 50 years in business. The owners are putting it in the market so maybe an enterprising younger steward can help it along. They’ll have to buy a new projector first though.

CARTERET, NJ — Plans are coming together for the restoration announced three months ago of the Ritz Theater. The plan now is to also build a movie theater next door with a complementary mission. The hope is that everything will be ready by 2017.

UPDATE: Workers have already started to remove the drop ceiling in the Ritz, exposing the old ornate ceiling and the proscenium.

DESTIN, FL — The Lively Cinema 10 closed last weekend after 27 years business. They spent more than half their time as the only cinema in town and didn’t even suffer greatly when a competitor opened nearby. The digital conversion was one obstacle they couldn’t overcome.

Take a trip back 100 years and get back to the present through 38 photos chronicling British cinemas through the past 100 years. Featuring favorites like the Ritz, former Gaumont Palace and the Regal Marble Arch, you won’t want to miss this photo history.

LOS ANGELES, CA — After considering various locations around Los Angeles, Alamo Drafthouse has settled on a location at the new downtown development, the Bloc, set to open next year on the site of the former Macy’s Plaza. The Metro-friendly location will feature nine screens with about 800 seats total. In addition to discussing this exciting arrival, the Los Angeles Times also discusses how with art houses like the new Sundance Cinemas and the Downtown Independent, Angeleno cinephiles have more and more options of theatres to visit, old and new.

LONDON, ENGLAND — Lucky theatregoers are the Vue West End were handed free glow in the dark ice cream pops designed by Bompas and Parr for Wall’s Ice Cream. It’s still being tested but the goal is to have a product that you can see but won’t distract you during the movie.

FLINT, MI — For the first time in the six years the annual Bricks Flicks was held at the US 23 Drive-in Theatre. Rain put a damper on the event, tyoically attended by 4-5,000 but several hundred people still showed up. The rain ended during the early evening hours allowing for the viewing of classic cars. When it got dark, the free classic movie was shown which was “American Graffiti.”

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Business Insider looked at the photos of Jonathan Saruk as he documented theaters in Afghanistan in 2009. With movies banned for decades prior during Taliban rule, his photos are a private look into this newly-appreciated communal experience..

NEW ORLEANS, LA — With many theatres getting revived post-Katrina like the Saenger and the Civic, the State-Palace is looking to take its turn. New owner, developer Gregor Fox, isn’t sure what the next steps will be but he wants to restore it to its former glory.